The Gambia National Softball Association has been formed indicating the introduction of Softball in The Gambia.

Headed by Ms Beatrice Allen, the 14-member committee has tasked itself to create a softball clubs and also train softball coaches in its bid to popularize the game. This was revealed by Ms Allen at a two-hour session, which gathered sports journalists to deliberate on the basic technics of the game at the Olympic House in at Mile 7. Ms Allen said the game is being played in 16 African countries - the Gambia being the first West African country to embrace it.

Ms Allen, who also serves as the first vice president of the Gambia National Olympic Committee, said her committee will work together to form a female team as well as a national softball league. Invented in Chicago, Illinois on Thanksgiving Day, in 1887, Softball is a game played between 2 teams on a large field, composed of a dirt or grass infield which contains the diamond and running areas, and a grass outfield. There are 4 bases on the infield (first base, second base, third base,and home plate); the bases are arranged in a square and are typically 45 to 65 feet apart.

The object of the game is to score more runs (points) than the other team by batting (hitting) a ball into play and running around the bases, touching each one in succession. The game is played in a series of innings, usually seven. Youth leagues sometimes have 6 innings. An inning is one series of both teams playing offense and defense.

Each inning is divided into a top half and a bottom half indicating which team is playing which role. The offense bats and attempts to score runs, while the defense occupies the field and attempts to record outs in a variety of ways. After the defense records 3 outs, the half inning is over and the teams switch roles.